This is my first year to raise chickens I ordered 14 on line and thought I got all girls but was I wrong I found homes for 7 Roosters. I have several different breeds and the small one are being picked on by some of the others. I separated them because I heard that picking there feather could lead to cannibalism. Tonight I just lost one of the little ones and if I try an re-introduce her to the others they immediately start pulling and picking at her. I'm not sure what else I can do?
I'd suggest reading through this thread - https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1148824/topic-of-the-week-feather-pecking-eating I'd keep them separate until you have worked out how to try and prevent the feather pecking. It's not necessarily easy to do and may take a bit of trial and error. If its been going on for some time, it may have become a learned behaviour, and that's a toughie to rectify. Good luck CT
Hi Welcome To BYC @CTKen has given you good information. I'm sorry for your loss. You mention that you have some "little ones" that the others are picking on. Are the little ones bantams? Sometimes large fowl may pick on bantams and they will eventually need to be housed separately. How much space do you have in the coop and run? Sometimes space issues can make picking worse as well. If you lost a small one due to being picked/plucked, it would be best, as suggested, to keep them separated until you can work out the cause. Here's some additional information: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/chicken-feather-loss-cannibalism-causes.html http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2015/04/chick-picking-causes-prevention.html
